| abstract | - (Scene begins at nighttime)
* Garon: You have done well to return to us, Gunter. Welcome back.
* Gunter: Thank you, King Garon.
* Garon: To think you fell into the depths of the Bottomless Canyon... It must have been quite the ordeal. I am pleased to see you alive and well.
* Hans: Heh heh, welcome back, Sir Gunter.
* Gunter: ...
* Garon: Enough of that. I would like to discuss our next endeavor. Soon Nohr and Hoshido will be engaged in an all-out war. Our army will set up base here in Cyrkensia and immediately send troops to Hoshido. If we catch them by surprise, we may be able to secure a win early on. Avatar, I'm putting you in charge of the Hoshidan infiltration.
* Avatar: ...As you wish, Father.
* Garon: Hmm...good boy/girl. Go by sea rather than taking the overland route. The Hoshidans will expect us to go by land and may be waiting to ambush. We shall outsmart them at every turn. In the meantime, I will return to Castle Krakenburg. I will monitor the situation from there and send more soldiers when the time is right. Iago, Hans, you two will come with me.
* Hans: Certainly, my king.
* Iago: Understood, King Garon.
* Avatar: ...
* Garon: I have high hopes for you, my child.
* Avatar: I shall do my best to bring back good news, Father.
* Iago: Before you depart, Lord/Lady Avatar, I must ask... Where exactly did you and Lady Azura disappear to last night?
* Avatar: Hm?
* Iago: Was I not clear? Then I shall repeat myself. I saw you follow Lady Azura into the night. Very suspicious, if you ask me. I shudder to even suggest it, but in times like these.. You weren't meeting with Hoshidan spies by any chance, were you?
* Avatar: Nothing of the sort. She and I just went for a little stroll in the moonlight.
* Iago: A stroll? You expect us to believe that?
* Avatar: I do, as it is the truth. I was rattled after the attack on Father in Nestra. Azura suggested we walk through the forest to calm my nerves. While we were gone, we ran into a strange group of soldiers. Naturally, we eliminated them all.
* Iago: What?! Y-you did?
* Azura: Avatar...
* Avatar: As sharp as you are, surely you noticed the new blood stains on my armor. There's your proof. I'm not sure who they were, but they threatened the royal family. That alone is reason enough to destroy every last one of them, is it not? After all, rebellions are like seeds. We must salt the earth before they can sprout. ...Have I acted out of line?
* Iago: N-no, milord/milady. You are a role model to us all...
* Avatar: Thank you, Iago. Let that be the last time I hear you question my loyalty. Father, if you'll please excuse me.
* Garon: Go. (Scene transitions to another part of town)
* Avatar: Phew. That was close...
* Azura: Avatar... May I ask why you lied to Iago just then?
* Avatar: Well, it wasn't a complete lie... They may have been monsters, but we DID vanquish strange soldiers that attacked us. I merely left out the details of where the actual fight took place.
* Azura: Ah, I see. So you said all that to gain King Garon's trust?
* Avatar: Precisely. If we want our plan to succeed, it's imperative that Father trusts us. Winning the war won't matter if we can't convince him to sit on the throne.
* Azura: That makes perfect sense. Sorry, I guess I was just caught off guard. Hearing you speak like him so casually... It was unsettling.
* Avatar: Oh wow, I must be a better actor/actress than I thought. Sorry, but until this war is over, you'll have to get used to seeing me like that. I'll have to grow comfortable with that disguise, at least in front of Father. No matter how hard it is... Or how it tortures me.
* Azura: I suppose so... (Scene transitions to a port in the morning)
* Avatar: Hey, Leo, isn't our boat due to arrive soon?
* Leo: It is. Patience, Avatar. Ah, that reminds me. Iago gave me some extra funds for our war chest. He said he hoped it would prove useful.
* Avatar: What?! He really gave us this much?
* Leo: I was also surprised. I'm not sure what's gotten into him. Prying money from Iago is usually like trying to take a baby bird from its mother. But we'll take what we can get, I suppose.
* Avatar: Too true. We should take this opportunity to stock up on supplies before we leave.
* Leo: Excellent idea. Hm? Avatar! Behind you!
* Avatar: Huh?! (The Avatar blocks an attack from an unseen figure who is then revealed to be Xander)
* Xander: Well done, Avatar! Your reflexes have vastly improved since last I surprise attacked you.
* Avatar: Xander!! (If the Avatar is male)
* Xander: It's been too long, little prince. (If the Avatar is female)
* Xander: Hello, little princess.
* Xander: I'm pleased to find you in good health and spirits. I heard the Rainbow Sage granted you new strength. Congratulations.
* Avatar: Thanks, Xander! But sheesh, did you have to give me such a fright! We haven't seen each other in ages, yet the first thing you do is test my reflexes! I guess some people never change. By the way, what brings you here? (Scene transitions)
* Xander: I finally completed the mission Father tasked me with. It was quite arduous. The first thing I did after reporting back was come after you. If you're to infiltrate Hoshido, I'm going with you. It's not negotiable.
* Avatar: Xander... Thank you! Having you on my side is like having a thousand extra soldiers.
* Xander: That is kind of you to say, if not a bit of an exaggeration.
* Laslow: Lord Xander! It's great to see you again. We did our best to make you proud.
* Peri: MILORD! I missed you so much! I made sure to keep Lord/Lady Avatar safe even though she didn't let me kill things!
* Xander: Well done, both of you. I am grateful for your efforts to protect my brother/sister.
* Laslow: Wow... Praise from the great Lord Xander. It's a little embarrassing!
* Peri: Heehee, I'm an expert at making baddies suffer, so it was a piece of cake!
* Leo: Now that Xander has joined us, the whole family is finally together again.
* Camilla: That's a good point, Leo! It makes me so happy to be near all of my beloved siblings.
* Elise: Even better, we have a new sister to welcome to the fold! Right, Azura?
* Azura: Y-yes, that's right. Sorry, I don't wish to intrude on your reunion...
* Xander: Azura? Can it be...our kidnapped sister?
* Azura: You remember me?
* Xander: Of course. Though not as much as I would have liked, we met a handful of times. I especially remember how horribly the other Nohrians treated you back then...
* Avatar: They did? But why?
* Xander: Azura is the child of Father's second wife, the late Queen Arete. When they married, many Nohrians were still distraught over my mother's death. Those who loved Queen Katerina were not happy about Queen Arete or her daughter. Camilla and I...and later Leo...were told not to associate with Azura because of this. I suppose Father wanted to protect the strength of his legacy or some nonsense. However, we always wished we could be close with her, as siblings should be. I can't tell you how happy I am to have you here with us Azura.
* Azura: Xander... Thank you. Your words have touched me deeply. You are truly as kind as Avatar made you out to be.
* Avatar: This is wonderful. Now we can all be the big, happy family we were meant to be!
* Elise: YEAH!! Let's all go to Hoshido together! It will be an adventure!
* Camilla: Elise, darling, we're not going to play. Make sure to behave yourself. It's true. We should all mentally prepare ourselves for the battle looming ahead. Traipsing into enemy territory isn't going to be easy.
* Xander: Worry not, Leo. No task is too great for the Nohrian royal siblings. Isn't that right, Avatar?
* Avatar: Right, We'll find a way to win this war together. And I'll protect all of you... That's a promise. (Scene transitions to the deck of a ship)
* Xander: The wind is at our backs, and there are no Hoshidan ships in sight. So far, so good.
* Avatar: Yes, things are going quite smoothly. I hope it stays this way...
* Nohrian: Lord Xander! Lord/Lady Avatar! Pirates are aboard the ship. They're raiding our war chest!
* Xander: What?! Where did they come from?
* Nohrian: I'm sorry, milord, but they must have snuck aboard before we set sail.
* Xander: That's not possible. Unless...those are no ordinary pirates. To pull off such a stealthy move, they can be none other than Hoshidan ninja. Avatar, follow me.
* Avatar: OK!
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